Reds 1B Joey Votto starts rehab on left knee, defends delay in getting MRI that found tear

CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto is defending the decision to wait before getting an MRI that found torn cartilage in his left knee.

Votto hurt the knee while sliding into a base on June 29, but didn’t get an MRI because it started to improve. He said the knee felt close to normal before it started acting up again over the weekend, prompting the test that found the injury.

Votto started rehabilitation exercises on the knee Wednesday at Great American Ball Park. He told reporters that “nobody’s at fault” for the delay in getting an MRI.

The 2010 National League MVP is expected to miss three or four weeks while he recovers. That leaves the NL Central leaders without their top hitter. Votto is batting .342.